New arrests in Thai human trafficking probe

BANGKOK: 22 people have been arrested in Thailand for profiting from human trafficking, police said Thursday, part of an ongoing crackdown that sparked a regional migrant crisis earlier this year. Major-General Paween Pongsirin, a senior police commander in the country’s south, said 26 new arrest warrants had been issued for suspects accused of trading in humans and money laundering. Of the 26, 12 had already been arrested, he told AFP. A further 16 arrests warrants have been issued solely for money laundering charges related to trafficking, of whom 10 had been detained, he added, bringing the total number of warrants issued since the current crackdown began to 145.